A country that wants to get rid of its past is changing its name

Located in the Pacific Ocean and one of the smallest island republics in the world, Nauru has taken an important step to leave behind the traces of the colonial period. The country’s administration brought forward the change of the official name to “Naoero”, which is its equivalent in the local language.

In his statement in parliament, President David Adeang stated that the name change is not just a symbolic decision and that it is an indication of respect for the nation’s cultural heritage, language and identity. The proposal, accepted by the Parliament without objection, will be submitted to the public for approval before entering into force.

IT HAS BEEN CALLED BY DIFFERENT NAMES THROUGHOUT HISTORY

The island, which has a surface area of ​​approximately 21 square kilometers, has been known by various names throughout history. The region, discovered by British sailors in 1798, was called “Pleasant Island” due to its natural beauty. After Germany annexed the island in 1888, the name “Nauru” began to be used in official records. This name was retained during the period of Australian rule and after independence in 1968.

SIMILAR EXAMPLES ACROSS THE WORLD WERE INSPIRING

The Nauruan government gives the example of countries that change their official names to highlight their cultural identities in the name change process. Türkiye’s start to use the name “Türkiye” on international platforms and its abandonment of Eswatini’s old name, Swaziland, are among the notable examples of this transformation.

PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS HAVE ALREADY STARTED USING IT

Although the official voting process has not yet been completed, some public institutions in the country have started to use the new name. While it was stated that the postal services, health system and various government organizations included the expression “Naoero” in their documents, the Australian High Commission also used the names “Nauru” and “Naoero” together in its information texts.